East Africa faces different tests in AFCON Pamoja race

The road to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations will take East African nations in different directions this weekend, with Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi and South Sudan preparing for a demanding round of Pamoja qualifiers against some of Africa’s established football sides.

For the three tournament co-hosts, Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania, qualification is already secured. However, that does not take away the importance of the November fixtures, particularly for Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania, who will be looking to use the matches to build competitive rhythm ahead of hosting the continental showpiece.

For Rwanda, Burundi and South Sudan, the assignment is different. They remain in the hunt for places at the finals and will be looking to make the most of the November international window.

Hoima City Stadium is set for a special evening on Saturday as Uganda Cranes welcome Botswana’s Zebras in the first of two meetings in four days in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers. 

The Cranes will host the visitors on November 14, with kick-off at 7 p.m EAT, before travelling to Gaborone for the return leg at the National Stadium on Tuesday, November 17, at 10 p.m EAT. 

Uganda head into the Group H double-header at the top of the standings with four points from two matches, while Botswana are second on two points, ahead of Tunisia and Libya. 

Although Uganda have already booked their place at AFCON 2027 as co-hosts alongside Kenya and Tanzania, the two fixtures provide an opportunity to build combinations, strengthen team chemistry and fine-tune the squad ahead of the tournament. 

Beyond the football, Saturday’s game will be an emotional occasion as former captain Khalid Aucho receives an official international send-off following his retirement announcement in October, giving Ugandan fans an opportunity to celebrate a player who has served the national team with distinction.

Uganda will also take confidence from their recent meetings with Botswana, having won both encounters during the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers without conceding. 

The Cranes claimed a 1-0 home victory at Namboole in June 2024 before repeating the scoreline away in Francistown in October 2025, when Jude Ssemugabi’s header secured the points. They will now be hoping to extend that winning run in front of their home supporters before travelling to Botswana for the second meeting. Fans planning to be part of the occasion at Hoima City Stadium can purchase tickets online through FUFA, with Ordinary Lower going for UGX 20,000, Ordinary Upper at UGX 30,000 and VIP tickets costing UGX 150,000.

The other fixtures offer several interesting battles, with Kenya taking on South Africa, Tanzania facing Nigeria, Rwanda meeting Mali, Burundi playing Zambia and South Sudan travelling to Angola.

Kenya face South Africa in double-header

Kenya’s Harambee Stars will have a familiar face on the opposing bench when they take on South Africa’s Bafana Bafana in a Group D double-header.

Harambee Stars coach Benni McCarthy, a former South African international and Bafana Bafana striker, will lead Kenya against his home country in two encounters that offer an interesting tactical contest against Pitso Mosimane’s side.

The first meeting is scheduled for Friday, November 13, at Orlando Stadium in Soweto, Johannesburg, with kick-off at 6pm CAT. The two sides will meet again four days later, on November 17, at Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi, where the return fixture starts at 7pm EAT.

South Africa head into the contest in much better qualifying form, having collected maximum points from their opening two matches.

Under newly re-appointed coach Mosimane, Bafana Bafana started with a hard-fought 2-1 home victory over Guinea on September 26 before producing an emphatic 5-0 win against Eritrea at a neutral venue in Cairo, Egypt, on September 30.

Youngster Relebohile Mofokeng scored twice in the first half, while Sphephelo Sithole, Iqraam Rayners and Luther Singh added their names to the scoresheet after the break.

The results have left South Africa top of Group D with six points, seven goals scored and only one conceded.

Kenya, meanwhile, have had a less convincing start. The Harambee Stars opened with a 1-1 draw against Eritrea on September 26 before suffering a narrow 1-0 defeat away to Guinea on October 1. Serhou Guirassy scored the only goal in the 32nd minute in Conakry.

The East Africans have managed just one point from their opening two matches, leaving them third in the group, level with Eritrea but ahead on goal difference.

However, Kenya’s position comes with an important qualification difference. As one of the three co-hosts alongside Uganda and Tanzania, they are already assured of a place at the 2027 finals.

The remaining Group D teams are fighting for just one available qualification place, which will go to the highest-finishing side among South Africa, Guinea and Eritrea.

For McCarthy, the November matches offer valuable opportunities to test his squad against strong opposition and continue building towards the tournament on home soil.

Kenya will conclude their group campaign in March 2027, travelling to Eritrea on March 24 before hosting Guinea in Nairobi on March 28.

Tanzania face Nigeria as Super Eagles seek recovery

Tanzania’s Taifa Stars will have their work cut out when they face Nigeria’s Super Eagles in a Group L double-header.

The first encounter will be played on Friday, November 13, at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo, Nigeria, starting at 7pm EAT. The return match follows on November 17 at the Amman Stadium in Zanzibar, with kick-off scheduled for 4pm EAT.

Tanzania have already secured their place at the 2027 AFCON as co-hosts, but their opening results in the qualifiers have not been particularly encouraging.

The Taifa Stars suffered a 2-0 home defeat against Guinea-Bissau in their opening match and have collected just one point from two games, leaving them at the bottom of Group L.

Nigeria, despite having a stronger start on paper, are also under pressure to rediscover their consistency.

The Super Eagles, coached by Eric Chelle, opened their campaign with a 2-1 comeback victory over Madagascar in Uyo on September 25.

After conceding in the 16th minute, debutants George Ilenikhena and Moses Usor scored on either side of half-time to turn the game around and give Nigeria a winning start.

But that confidence was quickly checked when they travelled to face Guinea-Bissau on September 29. Goals from Franculino Djú, Mama Baldé and Álvaro Djaló condemned Nigeria to a surprising 3-0 defeat, handing Chelle his first competitive loss in charge.

Nigeria now sit second in the group with three points, four behind leaders Guinea-Bissau, who have played three matches and collected seven points. Madagascar have two points, while Tanzania have one.

With only one qualification place available to the non-host nations, Nigeria cannot afford another poor result if they are to keep pace with Guinea-Bissau.

Their task has also been complicated by the absence of striker Victor Osimhen and midfielders Frank Onyeka and Raphael Onyedika, who will miss the November qualifiers.

For Tanzania, the double-header presents an opportunity to measure themselves against one of Africa’s biggest football nations while continuing preparations for the tournament they will co-host.

Rwanda and Mali set for battle at the top

Rwanda’s Amavubi face a significant test of their growing ambitions when they meet Mali in a Group K double-header between the two sides that have won both their opening matches.

The first leg takes place in Bamako on Friday, November 13, before Rwanda welcome the Eagles to Kigali on Tuesday, November 17.

Both nations have six points from two matches, making the double-header an important opportunity to gain an advantage in a closely contested group.

Rwanda, under returning head coach Stephen Constantine, have enjoyed an encouraging start, scoring five goals and conceding twice in their opening two fixtures.

The Amavubi began with a 3-1 home victory over Liberia at Amahoro Stadium in Kigali on September 25.

Abeddy Biramahire gave Rwanda an early lead in the second minute before Leroy Jacques Mickels added another goal in the first half. Joy-Lance Mickels then converted a penalty to complete the victory.

Their second outing proved a tougher examination, but Rwanda showed character to come from behind and beat Cape Verde 2-1 away in Praia on September 29.

After conceding in the fifth minute, Claude Niyomugabo restored parity in the 45th minute before Elie Iradukunda Tatou struck the winner in the 52nd minute.

Mali have been equally impressive under coach Anthony da Silva.

The Eagles opened with a 3-1 victory over Cape Verde at home, with Martial Tia scoring in the fifth minute before Nene Dorgeles took charge of the contest with a brace on either side of half-time. Cape Verde had briefly drawn level before Mali regained control.

They followed that with a disciplined 1-0 away victory over Liberia on September 29, keeping a clean sheet to maintain their perfect record.

Rwanda currently lead Group K on goals scored, having found the net five times compared to Mali’s four. Both sides have a goal difference of plus three.

Cape Verde and Liberia are yet to register a point after losing their opening two matches.

The November meetings could therefore have a major influence on the direction of the group, with Rwanda hoping to protect their position at the top while Mali seek to take control.

Burundi look to turn campaign around against Zambia

Burundi’s Swallows have little room for further mistakes when they face Zambia in a Group I double-header.

The first match will be played at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola on Friday, November 13, before Burundi host the return fixture at Stade Intwari in Bujumbura on Tuesday, November 17.

Burundi entered the group stage after an impressive preliminary-round performance against Chad, whom they eliminated 8-0 on aggregate in March.

They started with a commanding 4-0 away victory in N’Djamena on March 27, with Jordi Liongola, Bienvenue Kanakimana, Abdoul Karim and Nduwumwe Mossi all scoring.

The Swallows completed the job with another 4-0 win in Bujumbura on March 31. Kanakimana scored twice, while Justin Girumugisha and Abdoul Karim added the other goals.

However, the group stage has presented a different challenge.

Burundi opened with a narrow 1-0 defeat away to Togo on September 25 after Karim Dermane scored in the 17th minute.

They responded with a spirited performance against Algeria on September 29, taking a two-goal lead before eventually settling for a 2-2 draw at home.

That leaves them bottom of Group I with one point from two matches, having managed one draw and one defeat.

Zambia, on the other hand, have three points and occupy second position.

Chipolopolo lost their opening match 3-1 away to Algeria before recovering with a 2-0 home victory over Togo on September 29.

Algeria lead the standings with four points, while Zambia and Togo are level on three. Burundi are bottom with one point.

Unlike the groups containing the tournament co-hosts, Group I offers two automatic qualification places, meaning the top two teams will progress to the finals.

Zambia will be hoping to take advantage of their meetings with Burundi under coach George Lwandamina, although injuries to key attackers Patson Daka, Lameck Banda and Gamphani Lungu have presented challenges.

After the November double-header, Zambia will finish their group campaign in March 2027 with a home match against Algeria before travelling to face Togo.

South Sudan face difficult assignment in Angola

South Sudan’s Bright Stars will travel to Angola on Saturday, November 14, knowing they need a much-improved performance to revive their Group B campaign.

The match is scheduled for 7pm, with Angola looking to use home advantage to strengthen their position among the group’s leading teams.

South Sudan reached the group stage after overcoming Djibouti in the preliminary round, winning 4-1 on aggregate.

They had an impressive 4-0 home victory in Juba before losing the return leg 1-0, which was enough to secure progression.

Their fortunes have since taken a worrying turn.

The Bright Stars lost their opening group match 2-1 away to Malawi in Lilongwe before suffering an even heavier 5-0 defeat against Egypt at Juba National Stadium.

After two matches, South Sudan have no points, having scored once and conceded seven goals. They sit bottom of the group with a goal difference of minus six.

Angola, meanwhile, have given themselves a solid platform with four points from their opening two matches.

The Palancas Negras began with a respectable 0-0 draw away to seven-time African champions Egypt in Cairo on September 25 before claiming a 3-1 home victory over Malawi in Luanda on October 6.

Felício Milson opened the scoring in the third minute, captain Mabululu added a second in the 38th minute and substitute Miro completed the scoring in the 71st minute. Malawi’s consolation came through a Kialonda Gaspar own goal.

Angola sit second in Group B with four points, level with leaders Egypt but trailing on goal difference. Malawi are third with three points, while South Sudan remain without a point.

With no tournament co-host in Group B, the top two teams will qualify automatically for the finals.

Angola will therefore be keen to collect all three points against South Sudan and strengthen their grip on a qualification position.

DR Congo extend perfect run against Sierra Leone

Elsewhere, DR Congo continued their impressive campaign in Group E with a 3-1 victory over Sierra Leone on Thursday, November 12, at Martyrs Stadium in Kinshasa.

The Leopards have now won all three of their opening matches, moving to nine points and strengthening their position at the top of the group.

Yoane Wissa set the tone with an early goal in the fourth minute after being set up by Nathanaël Mbuku.

Samuel Moutoussamy doubled the advantage in the 35th minute, giving the hosts a comfortable lead at half-time.

DR Congo maintained their control after the break, with Edo Kayembe making it 3-0 in the 58th minute following a pass from Arthur Masuaku.

Sierra Leone refused to go down without a fight and pulled one back through substitute Stephen Bekoe in the 83rd minute, but the visitors could not find another goal.

Sébastien Desabre’s men will now travel to face Sierra Leone in the return fixture on Tuesday, November 17, at 7pm EAT.

With three consecutive victories already secured, the Leopards will be looking to maintain their momentum and move another step closer to the 2027 finals.

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